Japan Eases Foreign Tourism Ban, Allows Guided Package Tours

Visitors walk along a shopping street at the Asakusa district Friday, June 10, 2022, in Tokyo. Japan on Friday eased its borders for foreign tourists and began accepting applications, but only for those on guided package tours who are willing to follow mask-wearing and other antivirus measures as the country cautiously tries to balance business and infection worries. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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By Associated Press

June 10, 2022 at 5:05 AM UTC

Updated on

June 10, 2022 at 6:42 AM UTC

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Tokyo (AP) -- Japan on Friday eased its borders for foreign tourists and began accepting visa applications, but only for those on guided package tours who are willing to follow mask-wearing and other antivirus measures as the country cautiously tries to balance business and infection worries.

Friday is the first day to start procedures needed for the entry and arrivals are not expected until late June at the earliest, even though airport immigration and quarantine offices stood by for any possible arrivals.